William tod d



(No Mdel.)

W. TODD.

AIR VALVE FOR STEAM RADIATORS.

Patented Junhe 17, 1890.

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lshvrTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

VILLIAM TOD'D, OF NF.T YORK, N. Y.

AIR-VALVE FOR STEAM-RADIATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,448, dated J' une17, 1890.

Application filed June l, 1889. Serial No. 312,863. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM TODD, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Valves forSteam-Radiators, the., of which the following 1s a specification.

My invention has reference to means whereby the air is permitted toescape from the r'adiators and pipes of a steam-heating system when thesteam is let into the same.

The object of the invention is to devise an air-valve for attachment toradiators, for the purpose stated, which will close automatically toprevent the escape of steam or water therefrom after the air has beendriven out of the pipes and radiators lby the iniiuX of steam.

Myiuvention accordingly consists of an automatically-operating air-valveconstructed as hereinafter described, which is organized to close by theadmission thereto of either water orsteam, the particular features ofnovelty for which protection by Letters Patent is desired being speciedin the claims at the end of this specification.

To enable those interested in devices of this nature to make and use myimproved air-valve, 1 will now describe its construction and operationin connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecicatiomand wherein like part-s are indicated by like iigures ofreference in the several views, and wherein- Figure 1 is a centralvertical section of my air-valve. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line.fr x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing certainmodifications of the lower part of the valve-chamber. Fig. 4 is anelevation of a steam-radiator having my airvalve attached thereto.

Referring to the drawings, 3 indicates the valve-chamber of anydesirable dimensions and made, preferably, of cast-iron. The top ofchamber 3 lis closed by screw-threaded plug 4, and its bottom, in theconstruction shown in Fig. 1, by screw-threaded plug 5. The lower end ofthe plug 5 is provided with screw-threads to permit the attachment of ashort section of pipe 6, by means whereof the valve may be connected,for example, to a radiator, and said plug is also provided with acentral passage 7 and a chamber 8 with screw-threaded walls forreceiving the screwthreaded lower end of brass tube 9.. The passage 7permits the entrance of water or steam into tube 9. Brass tube 9 isprovided with holes of two sizes 10 and 11, the larger holes being belowthe Washer 12, which is adjustable within certain limits (for thepurpose presently explained) on th e screw-threaded portion of the tube9, as indicated.

On the top of tube 9 is loosely supported in an inverted position thelight metallic bucket 13, provided centrally on its bottom with aprojection 14, as shown, which in cross-section is triangular above, itsseatingsurface 15, (see Fig. 2,) and which serves as a valve to closethe lower end of the air-discharge tube 16 when the inverted bucket 13is raised by the pressure of water, for example, on the air-cushionwithinl said bucket.

The triangular portion of projection 14 is normally within the bore oftube 16, as shown in the drawings; but by reason f its shape the airwithin the radiator system readily passes into tube 16 when driven tothat point by the advancing water or steam, the tube 16 remaining openfor the discharge of the air until closed by the elevation of thebucket, as beforel stated. The projection 14 also serves as a guide forthe bucket, as is obvious. The tube 16 (which is screw-threadedexteriorly at its lower end) is, as shown, screwed centrally within plug4, and as the bore of said plug is likewise screw-threaded the distancebetween the lower end of said tube and the seating-surface 15 of valve14 will be governed by the distance-tube 16 is screwed into the plug. Bythis means an accurate adjustment of these parts is easily effected.

At the top of tube 16 there is shown a pressure-regulating applianceconsisting of perforated casing 17 valve 1S, and spring 19. Thisappliance serves to prevent the inverted bucket 13 from rising to closethe lower end of tube 16 before the airis expelled from thevalve-chamber. The action of valve 18 isintermittent and maintains asufficient compression of air to restore equillibrium of bucket 13 whendisturbed in use under high pressure, thus allowing the pressure tobecome equalized on all sides thereof. By suit- IOO ably adjusting orsetting the pressure-regulating appliance-the screw-threaded connectionof casing 17 with the top of tube 16 permitting that to be done-thevalve 14 is held in suspension by the equalization of the pressure onall sides of the same. Under ordinary low pressure the weight of thebucket would be sufiicient to overcome the pressure on the radiator anduse of valve 18 would not be necessary. Under high pressure, however, itis desirable'to use said valve. In the operation of this feature of myair-valve the air from the steam-heating system passes by the washer orguide 12 to the top of inverted bucket 13, and if its pressure issufficient and the pressure-regulating appliance is screwed down toweight its valve 18 sufficiently, the bucket 13 will be held insuspension and valve 14 prevented from seating (due to the air-pressureon top of said inverted bucket) until the steam affects tube 9 to liftthe bucket, or the said bucket is lifted by the water accumulated. inthe valve-chamber. The nut 2O on the top of plug 4 is for the purpose ofpacking the stem or tube 16.

At the bottom of valve-chamber 3', above plug 5, Fig. 1, there isarranged a returnpipe 21 to carry olf the water from said valve-chamber.Pipe 21 may connect with the radiator pipe or tube to which the airvalveis attached, or, if preferred, said pipe 21 may be connected with thereturn-pipe of the radiator. Under either plan the steam will circulatedirectly th rough the valve-chainber 3 the same as it circulates throughthe radiator-coils, and I entirely dispense with the drip-tube commonlyemployed with radiator air-valves.

In Fig. 3 the plug 5 is dispensed with, and the lower end ofvalve-chamber 3 is made, as shown, with a solid bottom havinga chamber8, to receive brass tube 9, and a passage 7.

-lnstead of connecting the return-pipe 21 on the outside ofvalve-chamber 3, asin Fig. 1, I make it, in this instance, through thebottom of said chamber, as indicated. In this construction, Fig. 3, whenthe air-valve is connected to the radiator, as 22, there is no need ofany outside connection for the return-pipe 2l of the air-valve.

The washer 12, which is also a guide and support for tube 9, may beadjusted on tube 9, so as to regulate the extent of opening between thewasher and the open mouth of the bucket 13, and thus prevent too rapidentrance of air'to the bucket and the possibility of premature elevationof the latter. One of the functions of washer 12, however, is to serveas a shield to prevent the pressure beneath it from prematurelyaffecting the bucket 13. The iniux of steam will drive the water and airbefore it, and as the air enters the valvechamber through passage '7 itcarries more or less of the waterwith it. If there be considerable waterdriven into the valve-chamber 3', the influx of the steam will have atendency to force said water upward within said chamwould be,and,besides, it cannot become wa A ter-logged, as it would if solid.

In the operation of my invention, when steam is turned into the systemand advances toward the radiators it drives before it the air and moreor less of the water that maybe in the pipes and forces the same intothe airvalves. The water and air enter tube 9 through passage 7 and passinto the valvechamber 3 through the larger holes 10 in said tube. valvechamber 3', comes in contact with washer 12,whose diameter is butslightly less than the internal diameter of the valve-chamber 3. Theair, however, rises within the valve-chamber between the rim of thewasher and walls of the chamber, and is discharged through tube 16, asalready explained. Al

comparatively small amount of water will be.

discharged within the inverted bucket 13 through the small holes 11 madein tube 9. Then a sufcient quantity of water is forced into theValve-chamber to cause it to rise high enough to exert a pressure on theair-cushion within the inverted bucket, said bucket will be forced upand thus close the air-outlet tube 16, and thus eifectually prevent theescape of water through said tube 16 and likewise prevent the escape ofany steam therethrough. The tube 9 being of metal, easily affected byheat, it is obvious that as soon as the steam has entered valve-chamber3 and this it does with the driving out of the water and air from thesystem (and continues to circulate through the valve, as hereinbeforeindicated)said tube will expand and thereby maintain seat 15 ofprojection 14 of said bucket against its seatat the lower end ofair-tube 16. It is plain, of course, that if the amount of water withinthe pipes and radiator-eoils should not be sufficient to raise thebucket, as explained, the influx of steam within the valve-chamber 3would produce an expansion of tube 9, and consequently A close air-tube16, so as to prevent the discharge of steam through tube 16 after theexpulsion of the air. It is understood that when the steam is turned offfrom the system the tube 9 will contract and the parts will be restoredto their normal condition, as shown in the drawings.

In Fig. 4 I show a steam-radiator having my air-valve attached thereto.The valve is secured to the radiator-tube and the returnpipe 2l is shownin full lines passing from the bottom of the valve-chamber (see Fig. 1)and entering the same radiator-tube below the point of connection of theair-valve to said tube. In dotted lines I have shown said return-pipe 21connected to the return-pipe of the radiatori The water, as it riseswithin- IOO IIO

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an air-valve for steam-radiators, &c., the combination, with avalve-chamber provided with an inlet-passage and a water-outlet passageand with air-discharge tube, of a perforated tube arranged verticallywithin the valve-chamber and in communication with said inlet-passage,and an inverted bucket supported loosely on the upper end of saidperforated tube and provided with a projection on its bottom serving toclose the air-discharge tube when the bucket is lifted by the rising ofthe/water in the valve-chamber or by the expansion of the perforatedtube upon the admission of steam thereto, substantially as set forth.

2. In an air-valve, the combination, with a valve-chamber provided withinlet, water-discharge, and air-discharge passages, and a tube arrangedvertically Within said valve-chamber and provided with perforations oftwo sizes, and with a washer adjustable on said tube between the twosets of perforations, of a bucket supported loosely in an invertedposition on the top of said vertical tube and serving to close theair-discharge tube, substantially as set forth.

3. In an air-valve, the combination, with a valve-chamber provided withinlet and Water-discharge passages at one end and with a plug at theopposite end having a screwthreaded passage, of a perforated tube ar-CAL ranged vertically within the valve-chamber, a bucket supportedloosely in an inverted position on the top of said tube and provided onits bottom with a valve, and an air-discharge tube screw-threadedexteriorly and arranged and adjustable within the screwthreaded passageof the above-mentioned plug, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

et. In an air-valve, the combination, with valve-chamber 3', providedwith inlet and water-discharge passages at one end and with a perforatedplug 4 at the opposite end, of a tube 9, readily expansible under theinfluence of heat, arranged vertically within the valve-chamber, andprovided with perforations of two sizes 10 and l1, and with anadjustable Washer 12, an air-discharge tube 16, adjustable within theperforated plug 4, and provided with a pressure-regulating device at itsouter end, and a.bncket loosely supported in an inverted position on thetop of tube 9, and provided with valve 15 andprojection 14 on itsbottom, the latter triangular in crosssection and normally extendinginto the airdischarge tube 16, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 17th day of April, A. D. 1889.

VILLIAM TODD.

Witnesses:

T. H. PALMER, J. E. M. BOWEN.

